If you couldn't choose Naim, what brands would you shortlist for a system?
Posted by: feeling_zen on 10 August 2018
Living in a country where there is no Naim distributor for anything other than Muso and faced with a massive struggle to get Naim equipment, I've obviously voted for my sound of choice by the fact I go to the trouble. But this got me thinking, suppose Naim didn't exist, what brands would you shortlist to build a hifi?
I think the question could be a bit of fun and informative as it may introduce people to things they had never heard of and it may be a question that gets asked for second systems.
The rules are simple:
1. You don't have to have heard any components from the brand, just predisposed to shortlist it.
2. No long lists. 4 max.
3. You can have two lists. One for entry level and one for high-end if you like.
4. If you like, share why you would be predisposed to shortlist this for a possible system.
5. Electronics only. The forum gets plenty of speaker discussion already.
I'll go first to get it rolling.
Budget System
NAD, TEAC, Denon
Always a soft spot for NAD and felt since forever that they were like "budget Naim" in their design philosophy. And they sound good too. Ditto for Denon and sound quality. Curios about the TEAC due to some seriously robust no nonsense engineering. In fact, If I was going to add CD to an existing main Naim system, I'd probably do so by just getting a $500 TEAC transport and hooking it up to my NDX. At the budget end, I don't really take any issue with the sound quality of Japanese hifi. Only the latter 2 brands are actually available in my country.
Main System
Bryston, Esoteric, Linn
Only heard the Linn and while not favoured over Naim at all, I still think it sounds damn fine. I had a source to speakers Linn system before and could easily see myself with their electronics if Naim was not an option. The other two are a curiosity. Bryston seems to have a different philosophy to Naim but similar in terms of their belief in over engineered power supplies and analogue preamps. Esoteric are an oddball. Hi-end TEAC label with some similarly serious engineering credentials. While they don't go for 2 box sources like Naim via power supplies, their external (and crazy expensive) digital master clock add on for their digital sources is an intrigue. Again, only the latter 2 brands are actually available in my country.
feeling_zen posted:Interesting how international the preferences are.
I like your observation, I think it is a great summary.
I could even joke, although this might have an unintended potential of being offensive politically, that after leaving the EU trends should settle around British products 
gsr posted:Bryston digital source and amps & PMC speakers!
Ditto. Bryston into PMC's - marvellous 
Gosh, a full list of Naim alternatives... on a Naim forum, and the thread hasn't been taken down.
What does that say about Naim ? Well, the answer to that is simple... confidence. In their products and in their customer service, (and in their customers who post on this forum, too?)
Respect to Richard for not only allowing it, but for contributing as well 
Roger
Mulberry posted:Mr Fjeld posted:Hegel - Highly engaging products and a Norwegian brand in the once flourishing Norwegian audio industry.
I once had Adyton amplifiers from Norway, does anyone know if they are still around?
I never had the pleasure of listening to a system with Adyton amplifiers but they are still loved by many enthusiasts. I think they now concentrate on line source speakers. They are quite expensive though...
I do remember back in the nineties when Adyton was very popular together with Dynamic Precision and Doxa. Those were the times 
Peder posted:???? MR FJELD,....a friend had Dynamic Precision,and I had Doxa a shorter time. This was around 1995.
Do you know if they still running this Companys.!
/Peder????
Doxa is actually still in existence. They recently launched a speaker which certainly looks like an experimental speaker from the seventies. They also come with a 25 year guarantee which is rather remarkable. And they still do produce their amazing amplifiers.
Dynamic precision was bought by Electrocompaniet a few years ago and is now dead and buried after Electrocompaniet recently filed for bankruptcy. DP was perhaps the best amplifier ever built in Norway and was among the very best such as Krell, Mark Levinson etc. ....and Naim of course
rjstaines posted:Gosh, a full list of Naim alternatives... on a Naim forum, and the thread hasn't been taken down.
What does that say about Naim ? Well, the answer to that is simple... confidence. In their products and in their customer service, (and in their customers who post on this forum, too?)
Respect to Richard for not only allowing it, but for contributing as well
Roger
Haha. I know what you mean but I don't think this thread is even remotely controversial for Naim. It is more like asking a musician who their influences are. The people at Naim know a world outside them exists. They may even listen to and own some other bits themselves. And for sure, they hear other stuff and will at times feel grudging respect for the results gained from very different design philosophies.
And at the end of the day, Naim does exist and most of us did put our money there. And for those on the forum who don't own Naim anymore, they are the spice that makes this place bearable. I mean, I love my top to tails Naim system and went through hell and high water to get it here. But even I, when faced with the choice of conversing with a dogmatic fanboy vs. a rational human being with differing opinions would choose the latter.
If I couldn’t have Naim, think I’d give a 250 Dr ago......